FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT TUTORS - PAGE 2

The Learning Center is hardly a well-kept secret, not after 8,400 tutoring sessions were tracked in the first semester at Highland Park High School. The innovative program - the brainchild of Principal Brad Swanson and former English Department Chair Warren Wolfe - occupies a brightly-lit, spacious second floor room in A Wing with tables, chairs and a random plant or two. The place practically hums with activity as student tutors, many headed for the nation's top universities, work with students who sign up online.

To test into some of Chicago's top schools, incoming kindergartners must be able to do more than just count to 10 or rattle off the alphabet. They could be asked to identify trapezoids, figure out how many cookies they'd have if Mom put two more on their plate, demonstrate advanced literacy skills and, for gifted programs, be able to infer relationships, recognize patterns and predict what comes next. You can probably predict what comes next yourself: With 3,337 applications filed for about 500 seats in Chicago Public Schools' classical and gifted kindergarten programs next fall, parents are helping their preschoolers cram for the tests.

Andriy Kartelyan pulled the crisp papers from his folder and placed them on the desk in the Arlington Heights classroom. He would spend the next few hours practicing pronouns and writing with his tutor, but the 36-year-old father from Ukraine had another, equally pressing goal: to fine-tune the resume and cover letter that he had set out, hoping it would lead him back to teaching. Kartelyan earned a doctorate in history before immigrating to the Chicago suburbs. With better English, a resume and his weeks-old U.S. citizenship, he hoped he may be able to leave the hotel banquet halls and factories where he had worked since settling in this country five years ago. "It's totally different from my background, but I have to survive," Kartelyan said.

Woodson Regional Library will sponsor a three-part workshop to train volunteers who wish to to become tutors in the Chicago Public Library's adult basic reading program. The sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on this Saturday and the next two Saturdays in the first-floor conference room of Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted St. For information, call 738-7787.

A community organization will sponsor several fairs Friday in an attempt to recruit 10,000 tutors for the Chicago Public Schools. The group, Tutor/Mentor Connection, is holding the events throughout the city in support of a call by the school system's new management team for "an army of 10,000 tutors" to help low-achieving students. Schools Chief Executive Officer Paul Vallas said the tutors will be an important part of his campaign to improve student achievement. Officials from the Tutor/Mentor Connection will provide information about the school tutoring program and sign up volunteers.

Keeping students coming to class despite demanding work and family issues is one of the more challenging aspects of volunteer tutoring at Literacy Volunteers of DuPage County. "Many parents who are students work more than one job and often are so exhausted. It's difficult to find the time," said Lisa Thackeray, program manager for the non-profit organization based in Naperville. But people who volunteer to teach English for the organization often see dramatic changes in the lives of students, officials say. At the same time, the tutors learn about new cultures from their students.

When Aneta Futekova started working in a St. Charles-area corporate dining room, her English was so rudimentary, she had to record her boss' instructions and bring them home for her daughter to interpret. "I listen, but I no understand," said Futekova, 53, a Bulgarian immigrant and student in Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley's tutoring program. "But now? No recorder. I everything understand. Because this program is very nice for me." Futekova, a former accountant who immigrated to the U.S. to be near her daughter and her family, is one of 250 students receiving tutoring through the agency in west suburban St. Charles.

The NCAA has found no violations in the way Tennessee is providing academic help to its athletes, the university said Monday. The inquiry followed allegations that at least four tutors did schoolwork for football players, including members of the 1998 national championship team, dating to 1995. The allegations also suggested athletic department administrators failed to tell superiors when the tutors or their supervisors complained. The university concluded after an internal investigation that no wrongdoing had occurred.

By providing free classes in reading and English as a second language, McHenry County College helps fight illiteracy, but the effort depends on tutors, who are often in short supply, officials say. "Our volunteers service the students who are most in need," said Jane Brehm, adult education and literacy support service coordinator for McHenry County College. With additional help, students can "develop confidence and skills to succeed in their quest for additional knowledge," Brehm said.

The Fox Valley affliate of Literacy Volunteers of America is seeking tutors. The first evening session will be at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16 in the St. Charles Public Library. This session also will meet on Wednesdays at the same time and place for three consecutive weeks. A daytime session will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 6 in the library. This session also will meet on Wednesdays at the same time and place for three consecutive weeks. For more information, call 584-2811.